Early days: born in Chicago on May 24th 1945, Terry grew up singing alongside soul greats Jerry Butler, Major Lance and Curtis Mayfield. "That was a dynamite neighbourhood. All of us were doo-woping at the time in different groups" says Callier.
1962-1963: At the age of seventeen, one of his visits to Chess Records pays off and Callier signs his first record contract. Four tracks were recorded and one released, a single entitled: Look at me now.
1964: Callier is signed to do an album for Prestige Records. The New Folk Sound of Terry Callier is recorded in 1965. Around this time, Callier begins to become a presence on the Chicago night club/folk circuit. Joe Segal coins the phrase ?folk/jazz? to describe Terry?s new musical style.
1971-72: With Larry Wade, Callier writes a US Top 20 hit, The Dells: The love We Had StaysOn My Mind. This leads to a record deal with the Cadet label, a subsidiary of Chess Records.
1972-76: Callier records three albums for Cadet: Occasional Rain (1972), What Color is Love (1973) and I Just Can't Help Myself (1975). All three produced by Charles Stepney, crystallised his style ? a unique brand of soul featuring jazz-influenced compositional structures and themes of social awareness and gained him and impassioned following among R&B hipsters. Callier goes on his first national tour where he is heard in a featured spot alongside such artists as Gill Scott Heron, George Benson, and Grover Washington Jr. "The Cadet years were good for me" says Callier. "It seems that songs like Ordinary Joe, Occasional Rain and What Color is Love resonated out there. That felt good. It was behind those albums that I was able to play in places like Washington D.C, Detroit for quite a few years afterwards".
1977-79: Callier signed to Elektra Records by Don Mizell. He records two albums, Fire On Ice (1977) and Turn You to Love (1978) well received by critics and Radio 1 personality Frankie Crocker makes Sign Of the Time the theme song for his highly influential WBLS/New York radio show.
1981: Callier is granted custody of his only daughter Sundiata. He retires from music to a day job as a computer programmer for social service organisation connected to the University of Chicago. "When I got custody of my daughter I had to give us music to raise her properly, she needed me and the music business just didn't seem like a viable option at that point" says Callier. He continues to perform, however.
In the early 1990s, the Chess/Cadet recordings are unearthed by Acid Jazz listeners in the UK who were drawn to his deeply moving poetry and musical eclecticism. The three Cadet albums became essential collectors items for the prospective beat-head. Callier?s music is heavily requested at UK listening venues and Charly Records releases a Best of Terry Callier on Cadet compilation. In 1991 Acid Jazz tracks Callier down and releases a new version of I Don?t Want to See Myself (Without You) on an EP. "I am often reminded that there are people listening to the music now who weren't in this world when some of the songs were originally recorded" says Callier. "I just hope this circle remains unbroken and continues to grow".
1997: Terry records three tracks with the up and coming British singer: Beth Orton. To be released, courtesy of Verve, on Beth Ortons label: Heavenly.
1998: Verve/Talkin Loud release Terry?s new album Timepeace. Terry finds himself touring Europe and the UK to show that receive standing ovation.
May 1998: Universal Records released a new compilation: Terry Callier Essential, The Very Best plus three re-issues of new CDs from the Chess/Cadet albums: What Color is Love, Occasional Rain and I Just Can?t Help Myself. May 1998, Terry sold out the Shepherd's Bush Empire, London.
Summer 1998 saw Terry touring the UK and Europe, covering Glastonbury, Vienna Opera House, The Quart Festival Norway, Fusion Festival Sweden, North Sea Festival Holland, Montreaux Festival in Switzerland, Munich and Paris France. Timepeace was chosen by the UN as the theme song for the 1999 Peace Conference.
1999: Verve/Talkin Loud release Lifetime with full European tour.
2001: Mr Bongo release the live set album Alive recorded at the Jazz Cafe, London alongside Europe, US and Japanese tours. In 2001 he was also to be heard on much-praised albums by Koop [Waltz For Koop] and 4-Hero [Creating Patterns]
2002: Mr Bongo releases Speak Your Peace with a full UK tour. This is a new solo project that reconfirms his enormous songwriting talent and shared vision with today?s most adventurous producers, namely Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick of Incognito and 4-hero. Their individuality proves to be totally compatible with his own. This album features the joyful collaboration with Paul Weller on the track 'Brother to Brother'.
2003: Terry completes a sell-out tour of Europe taking in Spain, Germany, Holland, Italy and France and more.
October 2003: Mr Bongo release Total Recall - a remix album featuring remixes by Zero 7, 4Hero, Funky Lowlives and Block 16, supported by a full UK tour.
2004: Terry's tour takes in dates including France, Japan, Toronto and London.
October 2004: Mr Bongo release the eagerly anticipated new studio album
'Lookin' Out' which is a true return to form. The lazy, jazzy tracks ooze vibes of Chicago, Terry's home town, where all the tracks were written, performed and recorded by the finest musicians.
2006: Terry sings on Massive Attack's single 'Live With Me' to much acclaim. Features on 'Collected', Massive Attacks best of album.
2008: 'Welcome Home' released on Mr Bongo Records. A new live album following the recording of an outstanding performance at the Jazz Cafe, London in March 2008.
2009: Since the release of Hidden Conversations it has sold out 3 times and is arguably Terry's best record released on Mr Bongo supported by a full UK and European Tour who knows what 2010 will bring,undoubtedly it will not be a disappointment.
